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Life Bein’ A Homeless in Eugene, OR

When we first arrived in Eugene we was only going to stay for about a week, then we was headed back to California to settle down. It has been two months now and we are still here in Eugene.

I thought being homeless here would be like it was everywhere else “hard and uneasy.” But it’s not like I expected, it’s better. There are so many opportunities and resources for us homeless it’s incredible. Here in Eugene they have feeds downtown Monday thru Thursday at a diner that serves three sides, which is actually very good food and the people who volunteer are really nice people who take four hours out of their own day four days a week just for us homeless. That should only show that not all people think only of themselves but of others too!

On Saturday at twelve a group of people get together at Washington Jefferson to feed not only homeless but everyone. On Friday the church feeds, so unlike bein’ in California with very little ways to keep from bein’ hungry, Eugene has the best sources for homeless that keeps us striving for another day. Most everyone thinks bein’ homeless means that you’re a dirty and unhealthy bum, but that would be the largest judgment on homeless anyone could ever make. Us homeless in Eugene have almost more resources to keep our hygiene to its max. For example, homeless have the Mission who not only lets us shower but also lets you get clothing and tennis shoes almost when needed. We have the Service Station, which feeds you and also lets you shower, and on top of that, they have washers and dryers, which to me as a homeless is very thankful for the opportunity to be able to experience bein’ homeless in Eugene.

People ask why I chose to settle down in Eugene and I tell them that, because of all the resources, Eugene has inspired me to not just want to better myself but Eugene makes me feel like I have to. That if I can do it anyone can and that is what I feel I should do for myself as a homeless. I want the people who does for the homeless to be able to see me one day soon and be able to say I knew you could do it, all you need was opportunity and encouragement from others. That what I hope for myself is to achieve what I’ve been striving for 27 years of my life, freedom from being under judgment.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 at 11:17 PM and is filed under Local Writer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Comment to “Life Bein’ A Homeless in Eugene, OR”

I absolutely loved this!! My fiance and I are from Kentucky and last year we took a road trip to Oregon and ended up homeless in Eugene for about 6 months. It was a life changing experience for the both of us and we plan on going back very soon. Hopefully to reside for good! Its just truley amazing how kind and generous people are. We too ate at the Diner and went to Eugene service station everyday, and honestley we had a blast!
I just wanted to comment on this and tell you how much I completely agree with this article!
Peace, Love, and Eugene

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“I know it is easier to fling free meals in the faces of idlers, but much more difficult to organize an institution where honest work has to be done…

In the initial stages…the cost of feeding people after taking work from them will be more than the cost of the present free kitchens. But…it will be cheaper in the long run, if we do not want to increase the race of loafers which is fast overrunning this land. I cannot picture to myself a time when no man shall be richer than another. But I do picture to myself a time when the rich will spurn to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor and the poor will cease to envy the rich. Even in a most perfect world we shall fail to avoid inequalities but we can and must avoid strife and bitterness."

Mahatma Gandhi
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“If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear. ”

Joanna Macy, author and activist

Basic Human Needs

"Wouldn't it be neat / If the people you meet / Had shoes upon their feet / And something to eat? / And wouldn't it be fine, / if all human kind had shelter? - -
Basic human needs / Basic human deeds / Doing what comes naturally / Down in the garden / Where no one is apart / Deep down in the garden / The garden of your heart. - -
And wouldn't it be daring / If folks started sharing / Instead of comparing / What each other was wearing?"
- Wavy Gravy

Everyone needs to see “I AM” the documentary. “We are all connected… we are born to be our brother’s keeper….”

Revitalizing the homeless of downtown, The Oregon Vagabond newspaper is written and sold by homeless people in Eugene, Oregon. Our vision is reducing homelessness and keeping the streets a safe place to be. The street paper provides jobs, builds people's self-esteem, helps them to transition off the streets and back into society. We are a member of both the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) and the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA).

According to The National Alliance to End Homelessness, there are 643,067 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States. Of that number, 238,110 are people in families, and 404,957 are individuals. 17 percent of the homeless population is considered "chronically homeless," and 12 percent of the homeless population - 67,000 - are veterans. The total number of homeless people in Oregon is 17,309.